Lambert's SE-5a

[baldeagle]

Anybody know the serial number of Bill Lambert's "Babe"? Was there a letter or number aft of the personal markings?

[TomVrille]

According to Combat Report, Lambert's biography, the serial number for "Babe" was C1084.

[baldeagle]

That was a long-lived machine, his first claim in it, according to the listing here on the aerodrome, on 12 April '18, and last claim in it on 4 August. Any identifying letter on the fuselage?

[StephenLawson]

There maybe something in one of the "Plummage" articles in the old C&C USA from Jon Guttman. Possibly the letter "Y", top wing pilot's right.

[TomVrille]

Originally Posted by baldeagle

That was a long-lived machine, his first claim in it, according to the listing here on the aerodrome, on 12 April '18, and last claim in it on 4 August. Any identifying letter on the fuselage?

Babe was a relatively long-lived aircraft, but Lambert was not flying C1084 on 12 April 1918. According to The S.E.5 File, and Combat Report, he was flying B79 when he claimed one Albatros destroyed and another OOC on 12 April.

The first victory for C1084 was on 1 April 1918 (A birthday gift for the newborn RAF), when it was flown by the noted ace George McElroy. Lambert’s first claim in C1084 was an Albatros DV OOC on 26 June 1918. By this time, C1084 had already taken part in 5 victory claims.

The end of the line came for C1084 on 8 August 1918, but Lambert managed to rescue the watch from the instrument panel while the wreckage of Babe was being shelled by German artillery. After the war, the watch occupied a place of honor on the wall of Lambert’s bedroom!

I'm still looking for any other markings information. Lambert flew with "C" flight of 24 Squadron. This flight used the letters U-Z on the fuselage, aft of the cockade, and on the upper center section below the Foster mounting. The Babe logo is where the fuselage letter would normally be found, so it isn't clear, at this point, just how Lambert's individual markings were set up.

[ONEALM]

OtF 3/3 carries Jon G's article on 24 Squadrons markings. He describes C'1084 thus:

C'1084 was flown at various times by "C" flight leader Captain GO Johnson to score at least three victories, and mainly by Lt., William C. Lambert from Ironton, Ohio. Lamberts arrival at 24 Squadron in March 1918 placed him last in "C" flights lineup and so most of his assigned aircraft (e.g. B'79, C'1870) carried the letter "Y" In correspondance with the author prior to his death (I'm presuming Jon meant Col. Lambert - as far as I know Jon is still kicking...) on 19 March 1982, Lambert - a WW I author and artist himself - included a rendering of C.1084 with the letter "Y". It may have carried that at one time, but a photograph of the same plane shows it with no letter, the fuselage side afte of the squadron bars having instead the legend "BABE CINCINNATTI U.S.A." in white. Lambert lost C.1084 on the first day of the great British Amiens offensive (8 August 1918) after destroying a German balloon and strafing the enemy on the ground.

I seem to recall a nice article on Lambert in C&C right fater he passed away, but can't put my hands on it right now.

[StephenLawson]

ONEALM; That is in the old C&C USA! Your comment reminded me of the pipe he used in his elder years. It had an additional attached stem with a rubber pad to rest on his chin.

[Bruno Stachel]

just Curious. What, if any, connection to Cincinnati does Bill Lambert have? I made a brief search last night, and the closest areas I could see him spending time at were Dayton and Columbus. Did he have a girl friend form Cincy?

[baldeagle]

Thanks Tom and Mike-

Somewhere I've seen a photo of a 24 sqn. SE-5a with the ID letter way aft by the tail, maybe that's where it was on C1084, out of the photo. Or is there another photo, or a larger version of the one above?

[baldeagle]

Haven't got the SE-5 Aces book (yet!), but the Googlebook preview,
SE 5/5a Aces of World War I - Google Book Search
shows E1293 of 24 sqn. on p.41 and profile 5, with ID number 4 well aft by the tail.